Well Chicago GM Emery mentioned in his press conference after the first round that Bruce Irvin and Melvin Ingram not being on the board made Shea McClellin an easier choice at 19 so by some definitions Irvin wasn't a reach.

Of course Phil Emery has yet to prove he isn't a terrible GM so that doesn't necessarily redeem the pick.

Well Chicago GM Emery mentioned in his press conference after the first round that Bruce Irvin and Melvin Ingram not being on the board made Shea McClellin an easier choice at 19 so by some definitions Irvin wasn't a reach.

Of course Phil Emery has yet to prove he isn't a terrible GM so that doesn't necessarily redeem the pick.

I LOL'd but thank you for lending yet more evidence that the pick was not a "reach" in the eyes of professional NFL evaluators.

But he doesn't understand the Seahawks defense at all. He'll play LEO and is a perfect fit. And he won't start this year. Their #1 need was at MLB. Their #2 need was at situational pass rusher/backup LEO to Chris Clemons.

Maybe when he's in on 3rd-and-7 for Red Bryant they'll run draws to his side and get burned... but it's not like this acquisition has somehow destroyed the Seahawks already stout run defense.

This is the thing. As a Seahawks fan, my first reaction to the pick was sheer incredulity. But then as I watched some tape of him (I really hadn't prior to the draft), it's obvious he's exactly what Pete Carroll wants in his defense. This is his Clay Matthews. Anyone who watched the Seahawks play last year knows that there's a role there just waiting for the right player to come in. Seeing what Von Miller and Aldon Smith do last year is what Seattle's hoping Irvin can do. He's just as good an athlete as either of those guys, and the major off-field problems are 4 years behind him. But compared to the other guys we'd have picked... Melvin Ingram? Irvin is more dynamic, and we've already got a solid front. The speed is what we need. If I didn't like the pick, I'd be saying so.

I gave it an F. They overdrafted a guy whom will have to significantly change his game to be successful in the NFL. Yes, he was the guy they should have drafted (based on their wants for an outside rusher), but not in the first. No one was that interested in him. I refuse to believe other NFL teams are stupid enough to take a guy purely based on first step in the first round, save Von Miller whom I still regret not realizing how great his first step was.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

But then as I watched some tape of him (I really hadn't prior to the draft)

I hope that tape had him standing up, because he played terrible as a down lineman.

I gave it an F. They overdrafted a guy whom will have to significantly change his game to be successful in the NFL. Yes, he was the guy they should have drafted (based on their wants for an outside rusher), but not in the first. No one was that interested in him. I refuse to believe other NFL teams are stupid enough to take a guy purely based on first step in the first round, save Von Miller whom I still regret not realizing how great his first step was.

Purposely left out the stupid word 'overdrafted'. But you are very close to making a good point. It's not that he's going to 'change' his game so much as he's going to actually 'learn' a game. He's a lump of clay. An expensive, potentially extremely valuable lump of clay. Pete Carroll majored in ceramics.

But I agree with the spirit of your point in bold - that is risky.

As for you not believing other NFL teams would have taken him - you are in denial. Based on the multiple reports shown in this thread the Bears, Jets, 49ers, and Ravens all had eyes to take him in the first round.

And to that end, in today's NFL, to quote The Alex, "pass rush is one hell of a drug."

I hated it purely for the fact that I wanted him to go at #28 so everyone would be ranting on how dumb TT is. His post draft tweet wasnt the first time he's thrown the lack of coaching thing out there. Played out of position and was never really coached on passrush technique. Can't wait to see how he develops under NFL coaching.

That's cool, but Von Miller is way faster in pads. Part of that is instincts. Part of it is just his build. I was just worried more athletic tackles in the pros would neutralize his advantage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpngc

But I agree with the spirit of your point in bold - that is risky.

As for you not believing other NFL teams would have taken him - you are in denial. Based on the multiple reports shown in this thread the Bears, Jets, 49ers, and Ravens all had eyes to take him in the first round.

I may regret this, but this class just didn't have a premiere pass rusher. I think his value was inflated because everyone around him was so below average (for a normal draft). There was no prototypical guy (like Julius Peppers or Mario Williams) in this draft.

I really can't understand why those teams would take a situational pass rusher in round 1. At most, he plays 35 out of 100 snaps per year until he develops some run stopping skills.

I hope that tape had him standing up, because he played terrible as a down lineman.

Playing as a down lineman in a 3-3-5 defense at 245 lbs is a recipe for failure.

Playing as a down lineman in in the Seahawks defense at 245 is a recipe for Chris Clemons. Remember when the Seahawks traded for that guy? Everyone said he was terrible and the Seahawks were dumb for getting rid of Tapp. But Clemons has flourished at the LEO spot, and so will Bruce Irvin.